Shane O`Rourke - Sahara Race
Shane O`Rourke has finished the Sahara Race 2010 in 12th place after a gruelling 6 days across the sand in Egypt. Shane found the going tougher than his previous races with extreme heat throughout. Shane would like to thank all who fundraised for and supported the Abalta School for children with Autism and to continue to support this worthy cause. Shane would also like to thank his wife Teresa who was an enthusiastic volunteer for the event.

Haloween at Portumna Castle
The Staff at Portumna Castle & Gardens invite you to come and celebrate the end of a very successful 2010 season with a FREE Halloween Event. The event takes place on Monday 25th October from 2.30-4.30pm, get your face painted with scary themes by Roísín. From 3-4pm listen to Meadhbh tell children's stories and sing along with her to songs you all know. See if you're brave enough to put your hand into the box and feel the remains of the murdered Hal O'Ween!!

A 'Book of Magic Spells' created by senior students of Portumna National School, will be on display in the Castle for the first time ever! It will include spells to change your parent/teacher into a frog or to make someone invisible, or mind reading spells amongst others. Also on display will be pictures done by the junior classes, the theme being the story of the little girl of the Castle and her dog 'Fury'. We now have the skeleton of 'Fury' on display. Prizes for the most creative page of the Book and best Picture will be given at 4.15pm.

Admission Free all Afternoon. For enquiries, contact 090 9741658

Winter Closure: Portumna Castle & Gardens will close to the public on Sunday 31st October 2010. Thank you to all who supported Portumna Castle & Gardens during the season by attending events and or by visiting with family and friends. Thank you also to the local businesses that displayed our Posters and Flyers helping to promote the site. The new season begins in April 2011. Opening arrangements will be advertised locally closer to the date.

Launch of the 'Ireland Reaching Out' South-East Galway Diaspora Pilot Project
Following the international Irish Diaspora event at Farmleigh last autumn, an innovative proposal was presented to the Irish government, which enables the global Irish to be systematically identified and reunited. The proposal was simply this: instead of waiting for Irish-Americans and their global counterparts to come to Ireland to trace their roots, we go the other way. At a townland, village and parish level, we identify who left, and trace them and their descendents worldwide, and engage with them; inviting them to become part of an extended "virtual" community of their place of origin.

The proposal was met with enthusiasm and attracted official Irish government endorsement and financial support through the Dept of Foreign Affairs. In April, South-East Galway was agreed as the national pilot project area for this initiative, which was christened 'Ireland Reaching Out' (IRO). Further substantial support has been forthcoming from Galway County Council, the Heritage Council, and the GAA and Irish-American sources. David McWilliams, the master of ceremonies at Farmleigh, has agreed to become the national PRO of the project.

The official launch of the 'Ireland Reaching Out' project will take place on 28th October in the Loughrea Hotel & Spa from 7.30pm. The success of this project is dependent on the active involvement of the South-East Galway parishes and we hope you will support us with your attendance. Further information available from doshea@irelandxo.com or by telephone: 085-1925466.

The areas covered by the project include the towns of Loughrea, Gort and Portumna and their surrounding rural parishes.

Fashion Show
The final touches for the annual Portumna Rugby Club Fashion Show are being put together, the participating shops have been confirmed as All Occasions, Cul Sport, Sew Malone, Kokos Accessories and Ladies Day of Portumna along with outside guests shops including Kabello of Birr, Pia Boutique and Guna O'Deas of Loughrea and Michael Wards of Ballinasloe. As always there will be some great amusement to keep the crowd on their toes and a special piece of entertainment for the ladies from a select group of "Rugby Studs". The show is on Friday the 22nd October at 8pm and tickets are only €10 (including a cheese and wine reception from 7.30pm) from participating shops and a limited number will be available on the door on the night.

Portumna Active Retirement Association
The A.R.A. Go On festival was held in Salthill last week where over three hundred members attended gave the variety act preformed by our members a standing ovation. Brid started off with our choir accompanied by Richie Kavanagh, Chris Smith played two tunes on the mouth organ, Margaret Cowan delivered her superb recitation and our Sean nos dancers finished the act to cheers from the audience. Well done to all who participated you did Portumna proud.

Thanks our due to Lorrha A.R.A. for an enjoyable social celebrating their fifth anniversary.

We have Tony Williams coming to speak October the 21 and our next social night is the 4th November.

Portumna Arts Group
The AGM of Portumna's Arts Group will take place on Thursday, Oct 28th at 8.15pm in Na Calai. All current members and potential members are welcome to attend. Future plans include the Arts Festival for 2011 and lobbying the powers that be for access to public areas and buildings suitable for future venues.

Portumna's Book Club
Portumna's Book Club are looking for adult members to join in monthly meetings at Portumna Library. One book will be chosen by the group and the Library will assist in obtaining copies to rent as a reader. All will then gather for a healthy discussion on the book. If you are interested in being a member, please contact Portumna Library at 09097 41261 or email portumna@galwaylibrary.ie and leave your name and contact details. The group will meet on Monday Nov 1st from 7.15-8.30pm to plan the winter reading so do join in.

Portumna GAAA message to the Hurlers: For the Portumna area, young and old, active or retired, the hearts of all the supporters were heavy after the hurling defeat of Portumna to Loughrea on Saturday last. As a community and town, we have had years of pleasure in sharing with our Dream Team, our valiant players who are our household heroes. The craic and sport of the days out, the nights' celebrating and the unity of spirit that connected the generations in the community are acknowledged and appreciated by each and every one who waved the flag of blue and yellow. Portumna is still proud of all the lads who togged out and gave so much of their heart and soul to the art of hurling. From the people of Portumna, a hearty thank you for all the moments to the entire team. They have amassed an awesome amount of penneats over the last 9 years, among them 4 All-Ireland appearances, won seven out of nine County Finals and 5 League Finals.

All Star Award: Congrats to Damien Hayes on his All Star Award.

Junior A: Best of luck to Junior "A" team and management in the County final on Sunday in Athenry against Gort. Throw in 3.30pm.

Conor O Meara - CD Launch
Conor O Meara, son of Marie and Donie O Meara, Winner of Ballinderry's got talent and lead in Portumna Community School's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will launch his debut album Thursday week. Having trained with Deirdre Hanaffy of Birr, this Boy Soprano's CD covers classical to contemporary. From Ave Maria to You Raise Me Up and Bright Eyes to Any Dream Will Do, the CD has everything. Recording took place due to the results of Ballinderry's got talent and covered 3 days in Earth Recording Studio, Nenagh. Special Guest performances on the night as well as a note or two from Conor will make it a great event. Admission is free but donations are greatly accepted for Autism Ireland and Cancer Care West. The launch takes place in O Meara's Bar, Thursday 28th of October starting from 9pm!

Barney O'Reilly
In appreciation to Mr Barney O Reilly's lifetime commitment to Irish Water Safety in Portumna, a tree planting ceremony will take place on Sunday 31st october at the swim area, for more info contact Fidelama 086 315 8544.